Does the Bambino Plus come with a grinder?

No. It has no built-in grinder — pair it with a burr grinder ($100–300). Pre-ground coffee can't be dialed in and won't pull good espresso.

Can the Bambino Plus make lattes and cappuccinos?

Yes. Its automatic milk texturing makes microfoam to a set temperature and texture, and you can also steam manually once you want more control.

Bambino vs Bambino Plus — what's the difference?

The Plus adds automatic milk frothing and a 3-way solenoid (a drier, easier-to-clean puck). The original Bambino suits people who mostly drink black coffee or Americanos.

Bambino Plus or Barista Express — which should I get?

The Barista Express is the all-in-one: it has a built-in grinder and a bigger 67 oz tank, but it's wider (12.5" vs 7.7"). The Bambino Plus skips the grinder and stays tiny (7.7") for small counters. Both auto-froth milk. Get the Express if you want everything in one box; get the Bambino Plus if space is tight and you'll pair your own burr grinder.

Does the Bambino Plus automatic steam wand actually work?

Mostly, with a caveat. TechGearLab measured a proper 18.4% extraction and got "very acceptable steamed milk for lattes and decent microfoam for cappuccinos in under a minute." But Reviewed found the automatic wand mixed — it "appears to clog or lose power over time" and may not work well with milk containers other than the included jug.

Breville Bambino Plus Review

What have experts found about the Breville Bambino Plus?

Every claim below is tied to a source you can open, quoted verbatim — how we research picks.

“With the help of some basic math, we used the TDS from the Bambino Plus shot to calculate the final extraction yield of 18.4%.”

In standardized lab testing, TechGearLab measured the Bambino Plus at an 18.4% extraction yield — inside the 18–22% window professionals consider proper extraction.
TechGearLab · 2024 ↗
“While testing the Bambino's automated steaming capabilities, we were able to produce very acceptable steamed milk for lattes and decent microfoam for cappuccinos in under a minute.”

TechGearLab's testers found the automatic wand produced "very acceptable steamed milk for lattes and decent microfoam for cappuccinos in under a minute."
TechGearLab · 2024 ↗
“the steam wand is not great. It appears to clog or lose power over time.”

Reviewed cautioned that the automatic steam wand's performance is "mixed" and "appears to clog or lose power over time," and may not work properly with milk containers other than the included jug.
Reviewed · 2025 ↗

How does the Breville Bambino Plus compare?

	Bambino Plus	Bambino	Barista Express
Built-in grinder	No	No	Yes
Milk frothing	Automatic	Manual	Automatic
Width	7.7"	7.7"	12.5"
Water tank	47 oz	47 oz	67 oz
Best for	Small kitchens + own grinder	Americano drinkers	All-in-one

Buy it if

You have, or will buy, a burr grinder
Counter space is tight
You want milk drinks with minimal fuss
It's your first real espresso machine

Skip it if

You want everything in one box → Barista Express
You only drink Americanos → the original Bambino saves money
You want full manual control and PID tinkering

Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth it?

For most people starting out, this is the machine. It removes the two things that make home espresso intimidating — slow warm-up and milk steaming — without dumbing down the shot. Buy it, pair it with the Encore ESP, and spend your money on good beans.

Check price on Amazon Live price & reviews on Amazon

Questions, answered

Does the Bambino Plus come with a grinder?: No. It has no built-in grinder — pair it with a burr grinder ($100–300). Pre-ground coffee can't be dialed in and won't pull good espresso. Source Coffee Brews Hub comparison ↗
Can the Bambino Plus make lattes and cappuccinos?: Yes. Its automatic milk texturing makes microfoam to a set temperature and texture, and you can also steam manually once you want more control. Source Breville (official) ↗
Bambino vs Bambino Plus — what's the difference?: The Plus adds automatic milk frothing and a 3-way solenoid (a drier, easier-to-clean puck). The original Bambino suits people who mostly drink black coffee or Americanos. Source Breville (official) ↗
Bambino Plus or Barista Express — which should I get?: The Barista Express is the all-in-one: it has a built-in grinder and a bigger 67 oz tank, but it's wider (12.5" vs 7.7"). The Bambino Plus skips the grinder and stays tiny (7.7") for small counters. Both auto-froth milk. Get the Express if you want everything in one box; get the Bambino Plus if space is tight and you'll pair your own burr grinder.
Does the Bambino Plus automatic steam wand actually work?: Mostly, with a caveat. TechGearLab measured a proper 18.4% extraction and got "very acceptable steamed milk for lattes and decent microfoam for cappuccinos in under a minute." But Reviewed found the automatic wand mixed — it "appears to clog or lose power over time" and may not work well with milk containers other than the included jug. Source TechGearLab ↗Reviewed ↗